What CEOs are telling us, live.
This page updates as more CEOs respond. Bookmark it and come back — the picture sharpens with every new answer.
What's hardest about being in the CEO seat right now?
Eight challenges, ranked by CEOs themselves.
What's hardest about the business you're running?
The external challenges, ranked.
When the decision is big, who's in the room?
The reality looks different at different sizes.
Filter the personal challenges chart by:
What's keeping CEOs up at night.
Quotes will appear here as responses are reviewed.
The 2026 CEO Reality Report is an ongoing, anonymous study of CEOs and founders worldwide. Respondents complete a 14-question survey covering personal experience of the role, business challenges, and basic demographic context. Findings update in real time as new responses come in.
This study is conducted by Andrzej Nedoma, founder of nedoma.io.
After 25 years as a CEO and two international exits, I built ExecSide because the patterns in this study are the patterns I lived. The personal challenges of the role are rarely addressed by the business support most CEOs have access to.
ExecSide is the weekly rhythm of clarity, challenge, and accountability — alongside a community of CEOs who understand the job from the inside.
Explore ExecSide (€97/mo, 14-day free trial) →